Mounting and adjusting device for recording instruments



' March 14, 1944. H, H, BARNAR 2,344,199

MOUNTING AND ADJUSTiNG DEVICE FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb; 26, 1942 5 Shets-Sheet 1 .za f/eruyfi Bar/mid March 14, 1944. H. H. BARNARD 2,344,199

- MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 26. 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 14, 1944- H. H. BARNARD MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 26, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 14, 1944. H. H. BARNARD 2,344,199

MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 26, 1942 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I a a? 0: o

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H. H. BARNARD March 14, 1944.

MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb; 26, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W M W W Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS Henry H. Barnard, Washington, D. C.

Application February 26, 1942, Serial No. 432,517

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a recording and indicating instrument of the general type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 368,696, filed December 5, 1940.

It is an object of the present invention to mount the recording and indicating device so that it can be adjusted periodically in a lateral direction relative to the direction of the indicating and recording movements of the device. A further object of the invention is to provide mounting and adjusting means on the ends of the device so that the latter may be shifted and accurately adjusted.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the instrument and its adjusting details,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l with some of the parts of the instrument omitted,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one end of the instrument,

Fig. i is a plan view of a modified instrument and adjusting elements,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end view of a portion of the instrument and elements of Fig. 4,

Fig. '7 is a cross section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another modified instrurnent and adjusting elements mounted on a board,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is an end view of the instrument, elements and board of Fig. 9,

, Fig. 12 is a cross section taken on line l2-l2 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 13 is a cross section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 14 is a cross sect-ion taken on line [4-H of Fig. 9,

Fig. 15 is a cross section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 16 is a plan view of .a further modified instrument and adjusting elements mounted on a board,

Figs. 1'7, 18 and 19 are cross sections taken on lines l'l-ll, l8-l8 and Iii-i9 respectively of Fig. 16,

Fig. 20 is a horizontal section taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 17,

Fig. 21 is a horizontal section taken on line 2l-2l of Fig. 19,

Fig. 22 .is a cross section taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 16,

Fig. 23 is a plan view of another modified instrument and adjusting elements,

,Fig. 24 is a cross section taken on line 24-24 of Fig. 23,

Fig. 25 is a section taken on line 25-25 of Fig. 23,

Figs. 26 and 27 are cross sections taken on line 25-25 and 21-21 respectively of Fig. 23,

Fig. 28 is a section taken on line 28-28 of Fig. 23, and

Fig. 29 is a section taken on line 29-29 of Fi 23.

The actual indicating and recording instrument 3 comprises such parts as the solenoids 4 and 5, lamps 6 and I, contact strips 8 and 9, threaded actuating rod I0, threaded nut l I, pointer and recording bar l2, limit pointers l3 and [4, base plate I5 and odometer or counter l6, all of which have been described in detail, together with other elements, in my said application and in my co-pending application Serial No. 430,812, filed February 13, 1942.

According to the present invention the base plate l5 has extended end portions l1, each of which is provided with a lateral groove 18 extending across its portion 11. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the groove 18 is cut into the upper sur face of the portions H in order to leave a section 19 on the bottom part. Each groove or slot l8 receives a supporting bar 20.

Each bar or rack 20 is provided With asuit able number of securing pins 2|, one on each end, and by means of such pins the bars together with the instrument 3 may be secured on a board or other support, not shown. Also, each bar 20 is provided with a gear rack composed of a plurality of teeth'2'2 which are adapt ed to mesh with 'a gear 23 of a setting device 24. Each setting device 24 is' mounted on a retaining plate 25 which is suitably secured on ment to the right or left, Fig. 1, as may be desired, such distance which may be required. Thereafter the winged nuts 29 are again tightened and the machine is in position for a further recording.

respective upright 57, Fig. 13, and bearings 65 secured by suitable means such as rivets 66, Fig. 15, to its respective plate 58 and against the side of the guide track 59. Each end of the shaft 63 has a gear 61 secured thereon to rotate with the shaft spaced from its respective bearing 65 by means of a spacing collar 68 and meshing with its respective rack 62. A knurled knob 69 is suitably secured on the shaft 63 to rotate the latter for adjustment of the instrument 55.

As seen in Fig. 13, the beam 56 bears against the base plate and a clamp II provided with a winged nut 12, Fig. 14, looks the instrument 55 to the beam 56 in adjusted position relative to the The instrument 32 of Figs. 4 to 8 issimilartoa the one shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The guide tracks or supporting bars 33 are each provided with a central gear rack 34 and end pins 35 by means-of which the bars may be secured on a board 'or other support. As shown in Fig. 6, each end of the bar 33 is supported on a plate 36 to leave a longitudinal space 31 between the bar and the support to accommodate the portion 38 of the base plate 39 of the instrument. Each end of the base plate 39 is thus provided with a groove 40 to receive its respective bar 33. A pair of securing or retaining plates 4! and 42 is fastened to the base plate by screws 43 on each side of the gear rack 34 in order to secure the instrument in a slidable relationship on the bars 33. In order to lock the instrument 32 in adjusted position, each end thereof is provided with a winged nut 44 threaded in a collar 45, Fig.7, on the plate 41 and having its end bearing on the bar 33 when in the locked position.

An adjusting rod 46 extends the approximate length of the machine and is rotatably mounted in two bearings 47, each of which is secured on'an upright 48 of the instrument. Each securing;

plate 42 is also provided with a bearing 49 on an extended portion 50' bent at right angles to the plate. At each end of the rod 46 a gear 5| is secured spaced from the bearing 49 by means of a spacing collar 52, Fig. 5. A knurled knob 53 is fastened on one end of the rod 46, Figs. 4 and 5, to permit easy rotation ofthe rod 46 and thereby the gears 5| to adjust the instrument 32 relative to the bars 33 and a recordsheet 54.

The device of Figs. 4 to 8 operates similar to the device of Figs. 1 to 3 insofar asadjustment is concerned, except that in the device of Figs. 4 to 8 it is merely necessary to turn the knob 53, after loosening the nuts 44, which will result in pulling the instrument 32 along at both ends by means of gears 5|. i

The instrument 55 of Figs. '9 to 15 differs from the instruments of Figs. 1 to 8 in that the instrument 55 is longitudinally adjustable on a central beam or member 56 which latter projects through openings in the uprights 51 of the instrument. The openings in the uprights are of the same shape as the configuration of the beam 56 as shown in Fig. 13. v

'The ends of thebeam 56 are each suitably secured to a guide plate 58, each plate projecting under its respective guide and holding track 59, Fig. 12. Each track 59 is suitably secured on a board or other support 69 by means of screws 6| and is provided with a central upstanding gear rack 62.

An operating shaft 63 extends the entire distance between the gear racks 62 and is rotatably mountedin bearings 64, each mounted on-its longitudinal axis of the beam 56.

. Each plate 58 is provided with a clamp 13 having a winged nut 14, the clamp 13 locking the respective plate 58 to its track 59.

As seen in Fig. 13, the guide nut 15, which adjusts the recording and indicating arm I2, is provided with a guide fork 16 to prevent rotation of the nut 15 when the latter is actuated by the spiral threaded rod ll. Such features are illustrated and described in detail in my said co-pending applications.

The lateral adjustment of the instrument of Figs. 9 to 15 is similar to the adjustment of the instrument of Figs. 4 to 6. In the instrument of Figs. 9 to 15, the instrument 55 may be adjusted longitudinally on the beam 56 by loosening the clamp H, the shaft 63 during such adjustment sliding in the bearings 64.

The modification of Figs. 16 to 22 is similar to Figs. 9 to 15 in that Figs. 16 to 22 illustrate a plurality of instruments 18 and 19 each longitudinally adjustable and any desired number being secured to each other so that all the instruments may be adjusted laterally at one time and by the same single means, namely, shaft 63, knob 69, gears 61 and toothed racks 62. The guide plates 88 are somewhat longer so that tie bars 8| may be suitably secured thereto and each plate is provided with a lockingclamp 82 and winged nut 83.

In order that each instrument 18, 19 may be adjusted slightly later-ally relative to its beam 56, one upright 84 of the instrument is provided with rounded edges 85, Figs. 17 and 20, with the contour of the cut-out portion, however, practically in agreement with the cross-sectional configuration of the beam 56. The other upright 86, Figs. 19 and 21, have the vertical edges 81 somewhat larger than the cross-sectional configuration of the beam 56. Also, a pair of brackets 88 are suitably secured on each base plate 10 adjacent to the upright 86, Fig. 21, and each bracket is provided with an adjustingand locking screw 89. By loosening the winged nut 12 and then rotating the screws 89, the respective instrument is adjusted to the right or left around the edges 85 as centers. In other words, the instrument is adjusted to the right or left of the beam 56 around a center in the longitudinal axis of the beam 56 at the upright 84.

If the instrument 18 is adjusted by means of the screws 89, the shaft 63 remains stationary. For this purpose the bearing opening 90, Fig. 19, in the bearing plate 9| on upright 86 is elongated horizontally, but the bearing plate 92 on the upright 84, Fig. 17, has an opening 93 which is only slightly elongated horizontally since the instrument l8 pivots around the upright 84.

The purpose of the adjustment by means of the screws 89 is to assure perfect alignment'of each instrument relative to the line to be recorded in relation to the paper or record sheet on which the recordings are made and also to align the recorded line relative to vertical coordinate lines which are printed on the record sheet.

The operation of the instruments of Figs. 16 to 22 is easily understandable from the drawings and the foregoing description. The main feature of this form of the invention is that by a single shaft 63 on one instrument, all of the instruments are adjusted simultaneously to right or left, Fig. 16.

The modification of Figs. 23 to 29 shows an instrument 95 having a single element 94 which not only acts to mount and secure the instrument 95 on the board 96 but also acts to adjust and move the instrument laterally, that is, to the right or left on the board, Fig. 23. The combined beam and shaft 94 is rotatably and slidably mounted in the uprights 91 in contact along its length with the base plate 98. A clamping device 99, Figs. 23, 25 and 27, is mounted on one end of the base plate to contact a section of the shaft 94 and is provided with a knurled knob I also threaded in the base plate so that upon tightening the knob I00 the instrument 95 is locked in position on the shaft 94. A pair of collars IN is also mounted on the shaft 94, one on each end and adjacent to the ends of the base plate 98, Fig. 23. Each end of the shaft 94 is provided with gear teeth I02 thereby forming a gear, each of which meshes with a respective gear rack I03 secured to a bracket bar I04.

The bar I04, Figs. 23 and 24, is mounted along each of two opposite edges of the board 96 but a pair of bars may be mounted vertically in spaced relation instead of horizontally as shown, if desired.

Each end of the shaft 94 may be provided with a ball I05 and I00, each adapted to abut against its bracket I04 and of which ball I06 is provided with a spring I01 in case the brackets may not be exactly parallel to each other.

The actuating nut I08, Fig. 26, on the spirallythreaded actuating rod I09 is provided with a fork member I I0 contacting the shaft I09 to prevent the rotation of the nut I00 similar to the structure shown in Fig. 13.

The operation of the structure of Figs. 23 to 29 is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description. If the instrument 95 is to be adjusted longitudinally on the shaft 94, the knob I00 is loosened together with the collars IN, the latter by means of the set screws III, Fig. 25, which will permit the instrument to slide axially on the shaft 94. If the instrument is to be adjusted to the right or left, Fig. 23, it is merely necessary to loosen the knob I00 and rotate the shaft 94 by means of one of the collars IOI, using for this purpose the thumb or one of the fingers of the operator. Rotation of the shaft 94 will move the shaft and instrument laterally due to the gears I02 and racks I03.

The various parts of the machine may be made of any suitable materials such as metals, alloys or plastic compositions.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular-embodiments herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of this invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an indicating and recording instrument, a device for mounting and adjusting the instrument on a support comprising a pair of bars mounted in spaced relationship and parallel to each other on the support and each having a downwardly extending gear rack, a shaft rotatably secured to the instrument and having a gear on each end meshing with its respective rack, and means on each end of the shaft to rotate the shaft and move the instrument in a direction parallel to the bars.

2. In combination with an indicating and recording instrument, a device for mounting and adjusting the instrument on a support comprising a pair of bars mounted in spaced relationship and parallel to each other on the support and each having a downwardly extending gear rack, a shaft rotatably secured to the instrument and having a gear on each end meshing with its respective rack, and means on the shaft to rotate the latter and move the instrument in a direction parallel to the bars.

3. In combination with an indicating and recording instrument, a device for mounting and adjusting the instrument on a support comprising a pair of bars mounted in spaced relationship and parallel to each other on the support and each having a downwardly extending gear rack, a shaft rotatably secured to the instrument and. having a gear on each end meshing with its respective rack, means on the shaft to rotate the latter and move the instrument in a direction parallel to the bars, and a ball on each end of the shaft abutting against its respective bar to facilitate movement of the instrument and shaft relative to the bars.

4. In combination with an indicating and recording instrument, a device for mounting and adjusting the instrument on a support comprising a pair of bars mounted in spaced relationship and parallel to each other on the support and each having a downwardly extending gear rack. a shaft rotatably secured to the instrument and having a gear on each end meshing with its respective rack, and a collar secured upon each end of the shaft adjacent each end of the instrument to rotate the shaft and move the instrument in a direction parallel to the bars.

HENRY H. BARNARD. 

